With the New Year comes a slew of new state and federal policies designed to change the way farms and ranches in California operate. As of Jan. 1, several new laws and regulations will affect agriculture, natural resources and transportation. Recent criticism of California’s water-rights system by environmental groups led to the introduction last year […]
Proponents of California’s agricultural overtime law, AB 1066, have called it a victory for farmworkers, while critics have asserted that it will harm the very people it was designed to protect. New research by Alexandra Hill, UC Cooperative Extension specialist and assistant professor in UC Berkeley’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, shows that, on […]
A college student from Los Banos majoring in plant and soil sciences has earned First Place in the 42nd annual California Farm Bureau Photo Contest. Cayden Pricolo, who won $1,000 for an action shot of the hand harvest of watermelons at a farm in her hometown, noted that photography is an invaluable tool for helping […]
Acknowledging the tough economic conditions almond growers have faced in recent years as production costs soared while earnings plummeted, the Almond Board of California maintains that the long-term outlook for the tree nut remains positive, even as the industry struggles through some growing pains. Almond leaders say changing times and shifts in consumer behavior mean […]
Applications are now available for the 17th annual “We Believe in Growing” scholarship, presented by E.M. Tharp and World Ag Expo®. The scholarship was created to support agriculture education and encourage students from the Central Valley to pursue a career in agriculture. High school seniors from Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings, and Kern counties are eligible […]
After nearly 60 years of showing cattle, Tulare County dairy farmer Joey Airoso acknowledged he’s “pretty well known” in competition circles. Though he has taken home various prizes through the years, Airoso said he was “completely surprised” when he was named the 81st winner of the Klussendorf Award, widely regarded as the Hall of Fame […]
Westlands Water District (District) has met its ambitious goal of recharging 200,000 acre feet of groundwater and is prepared to capture more. With water still available for recharge, predictions of a wet “El Nino” for California, and strong enthusiasm from District farmers to prioritize groundwater recharge, Westlands has set a new target of recharging 275,000 […]
Two different beetle pests found in California orchards this year have growers on alert and researchers looking to learn more as they try to develop treatments to control infestations. One is the arrival of a new invasive beetle, the Carpophilus truncatus, which was found infesting almonds and pistachios in the San Joaquin Valley earlier this […]
Waylon and Willie, two rescue dogs who helped protect a Tulare County farm from crime, have earned the $1,000 Grand Prize in the third annual California Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year Contest. The award was announced during the 105th California Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Reno. Waylon and Willie are Great Pyrenees and […]
Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, Inc., the nation’s second-largest pistachio grower and processor, is proud to announce a record-breaking yield and a revamped website with the start of the new crop year. For more information and to explore their new website, visit SettonFarms.com. Setton Farm’s 2023 harvest, which concluded on Oct. 26, broke industry records […]